Comments on: How to Build a Cheese Press http://chickensintheroad.com/cooking/how-to-build-a-cheese-press/ Life in Ordinary Splendor Sun, 12 Feb 2012 15:08:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Farmhouse Cheddar http://chickensintheroad.com/cooking/how-to-build-a-cheese-press/#comment-132366 Farmhouse Cheddar Tue, 07 Jun 2011 00:19:47 +0000 http://chickensintheroad.com/?p=16053#comment-132366 [...] to make. You do need a Cheese Press. If you dont have one you can make it. This is a good one How to Build a Cheese Press | Chickens in the Road and very easy to make. 2 gallons whole milk 1 packet direct-set mesophilic starter or 4 ounces [...] [...] to make. You do need a Cheese Press. If you dont have one you can make it. This is a good one How to Build a Cheese Press | Chickens in the Road and very easy to make. 2 gallons whole milk 1 packet direct-set mesophilic starter or 4 ounces [...]

]]> By: J. Whitmor http://chickensintheroad.com/cooking/how-to-build-a-cheese-press/#comment-129219 J. Whitmor Mon, 25 Apr 2011 19:17:29 +0000 http://chickensintheroad.com/?p=16053#comment-129219 I guess you experiment until you get cheese the way you like it. When a recipe says, "20 lbs. for 10 minutes, then 40 lbs. for 24 hours" it is not enough information to duplicate the cheese the author made. It would be if you had the same press and the same mold, but usually that is not the case. What we do know, is that more weight gives us drier and harder cheese, and that we can adjust it to our liking using our own equipment. This is a lovely site and with good cheese selling for $20 or more a pound in my area, I am glad you help and encourage us to make our own. Thank you, J.W. I guess you experiment until you get cheese the way you like it. When a recipe says, “20 lbs. for 10 minutes, then 40 lbs. for 24 hours” it is not enough information to duplicate the cheese the author made. It would be if you had the same press and the same mold, but usually that is not the case. What we do know, is that more weight gives us drier and harder cheese, and that we can adjust it to our liking using our own equipment. This is a lovely site and with good cheese selling for $20 or more a pound in my area, I am glad you help and encourage us to make our own.

Thank you,
J.W.

]]> By: Suzanne McMinn http://chickensintheroad.com/cooking/how-to-build-a-cheese-press/#comment-129102 Suzanne McMinn Sun, 24 Apr 2011 22:05:03 +0000 http://chickensintheroad.com/?p=16053#comment-129102 J. Whitmor, I can't answer that the way you phrased it--too many numbers in there, LOL. But I can tell you from working with cheese presses that the weight is distributed evenly across the surface, so no, you don't need a specific weight per a specific size mold, just a properly working press that distributes weight evenly. J. Whitmor, I can’t answer that the way you phrased it–too many numbers in there, LOL. But I can tell you from working with cheese presses that the weight is distributed evenly across the surface, so no, you don’t need a specific weight per a specific size mold, just a properly working press that distributes weight evenly.

]]> By: J. Whitmor http://chickensintheroad.com/cooking/how-to-build-a-cheese-press/#comment-129101 J. Whitmor Sun, 24 Apr 2011 21:38:47 +0000 http://chickensintheroad.com/?p=16053#comment-129101 I can't help but be technical, it is in my genes. When you press cheese, the recipe usually specifies a number of pounds of weight. My question would be, over what surface area is the weight applied? If the mold (round) is 6 inches in diameter, the surface area is 28.27 square inches, so the pressure with a 10 lb. weight is 5.66 ounces per square inch. If the mold is 10 inches in diameter, the surface area is 78.54 square inches, so the pressure with a 10 lb. weight is only 2.04 ounces per square inch, or less than half as much as with the 6 inch mold. The only way to get it right is to specify a weight for a given size mold. If a girl in slippers steps on my foot I would laugh, but the same girl in spike heels will have me screaming. Any suggestions? :moo: I can’t help but be technical, it is in my genes. When you press cheese, the recipe usually specifies a number of pounds of weight. My question would be, over what surface area is the weight applied? If the mold (round) is 6 inches in diameter, the surface area is 28.27 square inches, so the pressure with a 10 lb. weight is 5.66 ounces per square inch. If the mold is 10 inches in diameter, the surface area is 78.54 square inches, so the pressure with a 10 lb. weight is only 2.04 ounces per square inch, or less than half as much as with the 6 inch mold. The only way to get it right is to specify a weight for a given size mold.
If a girl in slippers steps on my foot I would laugh, but the same girl in spike heels will have me screaming.
Any suggestions? :moo:

]]> By: kremshaw http://chickensintheroad.com/cooking/how-to-build-a-cheese-press/#comment-115255 kremshaw Tue, 25 Jan 2011 19:45:20 +0000 http://chickensintheroad.com/?p=16053#comment-115255 :dancingmonster: Thank you for your help! I went ahead and made a double barrel cheese maker. I used 2 4" pvc so I can age one for just a few months and age the second for years. :dancingmonster: Thank you for your help! I went ahead and made a double barrel cheese maker. I used 2 4″ pvc so I can age one for just a few months and age the second for years.

]]> By: kremshaw http://chickensintheroad.com/cooking/how-to-build-a-cheese-press/#comment-115135 kremshaw Mon, 24 Jan 2011 18:38:53 +0000 http://chickensintheroad.com/?p=16053#comment-115135 :dancingmonster: I bought all of the materials to make this press but cant find 6" or 3" diameter PVC. Should I go with 2" and 4" diameter PVC and stay at 8" long? Or should I add a few inches so I dont waste alot of cheese that wouldnt fit in? Any ideas? :dancingmonster: I bought all of the materials to make this press but cant find 6″ or 3″ diameter PVC. Should I go with 2″ and 4″ diameter PVC and stay at 8″ long? Or should I add a few inches so I dont waste alot of cheese that wouldnt fit in? Any ideas?

]]> By: Lisa Stoner http://chickensintheroad.com/cooking/how-to-build-a-cheese-press/#comment-101962 Lisa Stoner Thu, 25 Nov 2010 00:32:31 +0000 http://chickensintheroad.com/?p=16053#comment-101962 For safety, it is advised to use food grade pvc pipe. When you order the PVC, request that the manufacturer provide a copy of the certificate that clearly states that the pipe meets the requirements. If you need 3Acompliant pipe, a certificate to confirm this is necessary. Some manufacturers will provide a letter stating that the pipe meets FDA requirements, but without the certificate it is unlikely that the process has undergone the rigorous review that is required to be certified to the 3A Dairy Standards. AIB Dairy Standards for Multiple-Use Plastic Materials #24. https://www.aibonline.org/newsletter/Magazine/Nov_Dec2007/4IceChips.pdf For safety, it is advised to use food grade pvc pipe.
When you order the PVC, request that
the manufacturer provide a copy of the
certificate that clearly states that the pipe
meets the requirements. If you need 3Acompliant
pipe, a certificate to confirm
this is necessary. Some manufacturers
will provide a letter stating that the pipe
meets FDA requirements, but without the
certificate it is unlikely that the process
has undergone the rigorous review that is
required to be certified to the 3A Dairy
Standards. AIB
Dairy Standards for Multiple-Use Plastic
Materials #24.
https://www.aibonline.org/newsletter/Magazine/Nov_Dec2007/4IceChips.pdf

]]> By: Bruce Zelazoski http://chickensintheroad.com/cooking/how-to-build-a-cheese-press/#comment-99976 Bruce Zelazoski Mon, 15 Nov 2010 17:45:17 +0000 http://chickensintheroad.com/?p=16053#comment-99976 Hi Suzanne, Loved your Monteray Jack blog and the photos were terrific. Thanks. I did have a comment about your cheese press. There is a lot of "noise" about using Hardware store PVC pipe for food processing. I think the consensus is it is OK for home use but would never be approved for commercial food production. There is another plastic product called HDPE which is food grade and the FDA recognizes it as safe for food contact. In fact Milk jugs are made from HDPE. Problem is HDPE pipe, especially large diameter pipe, is difficult to find. If any of your fans have any ideas for a source for this it would be much appreciated. I, personally have chosen to not use PVC for any part of my cheese making process. Bruce Hi Suzanne,

Loved your Monteray Jack blog and the photos were terrific. Thanks.

I did have a comment about your cheese press. There is a lot of “noise” about using Hardware store PVC pipe for food processing. I think the consensus is it is OK for home use but would never be approved for commercial food production. There is another plastic product called HDPE which is food grade and the FDA recognizes it as safe for food contact. In fact Milk jugs are made from HDPE.

Problem is HDPE pipe, especially large diameter pipe, is difficult to find. If any of your fans have any ideas for a source for this it would be much appreciated. I, personally have chosen to not use PVC for any part of my cheese making process.

Bruce

]]> By: Suzanne McMinn http://chickensintheroad.com/cooking/how-to-build-a-cheese-press/#comment-67151 Suzanne McMinn Fri, 26 Feb 2010 21:40:10 +0000 http://chickensintheroad.com/?p=16053#comment-67151 Kim, I don't know. I've never made cider, but I want to! Kim, I don’t know. I’ve never made cider, but I want to!

]]> By: Kim from Milwaukee http://chickensintheroad.com/cooking/how-to-build-a-cheese-press/#comment-67142 Kim from Milwaukee Fri, 26 Feb 2010 20:40:31 +0000 http://chickensintheroad.com/?p=16053#comment-67142 Suzanne, I wonder if this cheese press would work as a cider press as well...? thoughts? I'm dying to make my own cider, my dad has apple trees, but cider presses are COM-PLI-CA-TED to make, and I sure as heck won't buy one! but I really want some cider.....really really bad.... Suzanne, I wonder if this cheese press would work as a cider press as well…? thoughts? I’m dying to make my own cider, my dad has apple trees, but cider presses are COM-PLI-CA-TED to make, and I sure as heck won’t buy one! but I really want some cider…..really really bad….

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